Audio version of the 2018 VIP

Braille versions of the 2018 Voter Information Pamphlet are available. Please contact the Elections and Voter Services Division at 406-444-9608 or by email at [email protected]

A citizen proposed ballot issue can only appear on the federal general election ballot once the proposed language has fulfilled three requirements. First, the language must be submitted to Montana’s Legislative Services Division. Second, the Montana Attorney General must conduct a legal review. Finally, after the review process is complete, and the sponsor has been notified by the Secretary of State of the approval or rejection of the ballot issue, the sponsor must collect sufficient verified signatures from qualified voters in Montana. Propose a ballot issue »

Initiative or referendum for the ballot – Signatures must be obtained from 5 percent of the total number of qualified voters in Montana (based on the number of votes cast for the office of governor in the last general election), including 5 percent of the voters in each of 34 legislative house districts.

Constitutional amendment by initiative – Signatures must be obtained from 10 percent of the total number of qualified voters in Montana (based on the number of votes cast for the office of governor in the last general election), including 10 percent of the voters in each of 40 legislative house districts.

If you observe and have concerns about questionable signature gathering, you may file a complaint with the Secretary of State, who will forward each complaint to the appropriate county official. See signature gathering information »

The following issues have been referred to the voters by 2017 Legislature and will appear on the November 6, 2018 general election ballot:

LR-128 (SB 85)Subject: Referendum submitting a 6-mill levy for support of the Montana University System to voters.Type: Legislative ReferendumStatus: Legislature referred SB 85 to the 2018 general election ballot. APPROVED BY VOTERS.

Please Note:Ballot issue numbers listed below are assigned by the order in which they were received at the Office of the Montana Secretary of State. They do not reflect a ranking or how the initiative would be numbered if it were placed on the ballot.

The following are citizen proposals for statewide ballot initiatives for the November 6, 2018, general election ballot that were submitted to the Secretary of State.

Ballot Issue #1 I-183Subject: Require a person using a locker room or protected facility in a government building or public school to use the facility that is designated for that person’s sex.Contact Person: Jeff LaszloffySponsor: Jeff LaszloffyType: Statutory initiativeReceived by SOS: May 10, 2017Status: Petition has been approved for signature gathering as of July 26, 2017. On September 28, 2017, Secretary of State issued revised petition form containing Attorney General’s revised ballot statements.Next Step: Sponsor may submit signatures to county election offices.

Ballot Issue #8 Subject: Require that new hardrock mines in Montana have a reclamation plan that provides that the mine will not require perpetual treatment of water polluted by acid mine drainage or other contaminants such as arsenic, lead, or mercury.Contact Person: Thomas SchoenlebenSponsor: Thomas SchoenlebenType: Statutory initiativeReceived by SOS: February 21, 2018Status: Rejected by Secretary of State after review under 13-27-202(4), MCA.

Ballot Issue #10 CI-117Subject: Limiting voting to individuals who are U.S. citizens and Montana residents at least 30 days before the election.Contact Person: Chris GallusSponsor: Chris GallusType: Constitutional initiativeReceived by SOS: March 1, 2018Status: Petition has been approved for signature gathering as of April 23, 2018.Next Step: Sponsor may submit signatures to county election offices.

Ballot Issue #12 Subject: Require that new hardrock mines in Montana have a reclamation plan that provides that the mine will not require perpetual treatment of water polluted by acid mine drainage or other contaminants such as arsenic, lead, or mercury.Contact Person: Thomas SchoenlebenSponsor: Thomas SchoenlebenType: Statutory initiativeReceived by SOS: March 16, 2018Status: Withdrawn by Sponsor.

Ballot Issue #14 I-186Subject: Require that new hard-rock mines in Montana have a reclamation plan that provides that the mine will not require perpetual treatment of water polluted by acid mine drainage or other contaminants such as arsenic, lead, or mercury.Contact Person: Thomas SchoenlebenSponsor: Thomas SchoenlebenType: Statutory initiativeReceived by SOS: April 4, 2018Status: Petition has qualified for the 2018 General Election Ballot. REJECTED BY VOTERS.

Ballot Issue #15 Subject: Reserve to the people the power to amend or repeal laws passed by initiative.Contact Person: Nathan PierceSponsor: Nathan PierceType: Constitutional initiativeReceived by SOS: April 23, 2018Status: Reviewed by Legislative Services.Next Step: Sponsor has the opportunity to respond to Legislative Services.

Ballot Issue #16 Subject: Require that, upon request of a person accused of violating a law involving a civil or misdemeanor penalty, a public body or agency will have 5 days to produce the information requested or seek an order of protection.Contact Person: Scott SalesSponsor: Scott SalesType: Constitutional initiativeReceived by SOS: April 25, 2018Status: Reviewed by Legislative Services.Next Step: Sponsor has the opportunity to respond to Legislative Services.

Ballot Issue #14 I-186Subject: Require the Department of Environmental Quality to deny a permit for any new hardrock mines in Montana unless the reclamation plan provides clear and convincing evidence that the mine will not require perpetual treatment of water polluted by acid mine drainage or other contaminants.Contact Person: Thomas SchoenlebenSponsor: Thomas SchoenlebenType: Statutory initiativeReceived by SOS: April 4, 2018Status: Petition has qualified for the 2018 General Election Ballot. REJECTED BY VOTERS.Petition County Summary I-186

Ballot Issue #1 I-183Subject: Require a person using a locker room or protected facility in a government building or public school to use the facility that is designated for that person’s sex.Contact Person: Jeff LaszloffySponsor: Jeff LaszloffyType: Statutory initiativeReceived by SOS: May 10, 2017Status: Petition has been approved for signature gathering as of July 26, 2017. On September 28, 2017, Secretary of State issued revised petition form containing Attorney General’s revised ballot statements.Next Step: Sponsor may submit signatures to county election offices.Petition County Summary I-183

Ballot Issue #4 I-184Subject: Require investor-owned utilities to supply incrementally higher percentages of their electricity from renewable energy sources, and establish a displaced fossil-fuel workers program and a fossil-fuel pensioner program.Contact Person: Ken CrouchSponsor: Ken CrouchType: Statutory initiativeReceived by SOS: August 24, 2017Status: Petition has been approved for signature gathering as of October 31, 2017.Next Step: Sponsor may submit signatures to county election offices.Petition County Summary I-184

Ballot Issue #10 CI-117Subject: Limiting voting to individuals who are U.S. citizens and Montana residents at least 30 days before the election.Contact Person: Chris GallusSponsor: Chris GallusType: Constitutional initiativeReceived by SOS: March 1, 2018Status: Petition has been approved for signature gathering as of April 23, 2018.Next Step: Sponsor may submit signatures to county election offices.

Ballot Issue #15 Subject: Reserve to the people the power to amend or repeal laws passed by initiative.Contact Person: Nathan PierceSponsor: Nathan PierceType: Constitutional initiativeReceived by SOS: April 23, 2018Status: Reviewed by Legislative Services.Next Step: Sponsor has the opportunity to respond to Legislative Services.

Ballot Issue #16 Subject: Require that, upon request of a person accused of violating a law involving a civil or misdemeanor penalty, a public body or agency will have 5 days to produce the information requested or seek an order of protection.Contact Person: Scott SalesSponsor: Scott SalesType: Constitutional initiativeReceived by SOS: April 25, 2018Status: Reviewed by Legislative Services.Next Step: Sponsor has the opportunity to respond to Legislative Services.

Ballot Issue #8 Subject: Require that new hardrock mines in Montana have a reclamation plan that provides that the mine will not require perpetual treatment of water polluted by acid mine drainage or other contaminants such as arsenic, lead, or mercury.Contact Person: Thomas SchoenlebenSponsor: Thomas SchoenlebenType: Statutory initiativeReceived by SOS: February 21, 2018Status: Rejected by Secretary of State after review under 13-27-202(4), MCA.

Ballot Issue #12 Subject: Require that new hardrock mines in Montana have a reclamation plan that provides that the mine will not require perpetual treatment of water polluted by acid mine drainage or other contaminants such as arsenic, lead, or mercury.Contact Person: Thomas SchoenlebenSponsor: Thomas SchoenlebenType: Statutory initiativeReceived by SOS: March 16, 2018Status: Withdrawn by Sponsor.